McKenna Harford

Federal judge orders Colorado school district — for a second time — to return 19 removed books to library shelves Jeff Maher, a spokesperson for the Elizabeth School District, said the district was renewing its emergency motion to put the order on hold pending an appeal to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal…

A federal judge has ordered Colorado’s Elizabeth School District to return 19 removed books, including “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini and Toni Morrison’s “Beloved," to its library shelves — for the second time.

I guess I'm too late to stock up on essentials?

Rep. Boebert invites Small Business Administration to relocate Colorado offices to Douglas County - Douglas County News Press U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Douglas County officials have proposed moving the Small Business Administration’s Colorado District Office from Denver to Douglas County, citing alignment with President D...

US Rep. Lauren Boebert proposed moving the SBA’s Colorado offices to Douglas County, citing its support for Trump’s immigration policies #copolitics coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/03/12/b...

Colorado's immigration laws, explained State laws aimed at making life more secure for undocumented residents face new scrutiny under the Trump administration.

A good explainer from colleagues : www.cpr.org/2025/03/05/c...

Douglas County commissioners appoint library board member who supported book removals - Douglas County News Press The Douglas County commissioners altered a longtime appointment process for the Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees when they hand-picked new members of the board, including a Castle Rock resid...

DougCo commissioners changed the library board appointment process to handpick new members, including one who supported book removals #copolitics coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/03/05/d...

Douglas County School District preps for March announcement of Highlands Ranch school closures - Douglas County News Press The Douglas County School Board unanimously approved a policy to help guide school closures, including the planned closures of three elementary schools in Highlands Ranch in 2026.  No schools in Highl...

Douglas County School Board approved a school closure policy as the district preps to announce closure recommendations in March coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/02/13/d...

NEW: This Fort Carson soldier received a Purple Heart for his heroic actions in Iraq.

Now he faces deportation by the Trump administration.

The Gazette’s Carol McKinley has that story, which is on our front page today:

daily.gazette.com/the-colorado... #colorado #ICE

ICE is still refusing to answer local press questions but admitted to Fox News that out of 30 arrests yesterday, “only one of those arrested was a Tren de Aragua gang member.” www.foxnews.com/media/trump-...

Feds not pursuing charges in Adams County warehouse raid None of the 49 people detained in a raid on a makeshift nightclub in Adams County are facing criminal charges, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Division.

The federal cops made such a big to-do out of this raid. Was it worth it?
www.denverpost.com/2025/02/06/a...

BREAKING: Colorado will sue the Trump Admininstration over Elon Musk and DOGE access to the US Treasury payment system. and the sensitive personal information it contains. This is a multi-state coalition, according to Phil Weiser's office. "Probably the most calls we've received on any issue."

Castle Rock starts rezoning process for mixed-use Brickyard development Castle Rock is planning to rezone the former Acme Brick facility into a mixed-use space to include more than 580 housing units, 92,000 square-feet of commercial space, a hotel and conference center and a sports facility through a partnership with Confluence Companies. At a Feb. 4 meeting, the Castle Rock Town Council unanimously approved the first reading of a development agreement and zoning plan for the future Brickyard development at 401 Prairie Hawk Drive, which is east of Interstate 25 and south of Wolfensberger Road.

Castle Rock starts rezoning process for mixed-use Brickyard development

Castle Rock is planning to rezone the former Acme Brick facility into a mixed-use space to include more than 580 housing units, 92,000 square-feet of commercial space, a hotel and conference center and a sports facility…

State Education Commissioner speaks on federal changes, chronic absenteeism and more Insights from Commissioner of Education Susanna Córdova.

NEW: State Education Commissioner speaks on federal changes, chronic absenteeism and more
www.cpr.org/2025/02/05/i...
@codepted.bsky.social @coloradopublic.bsky.social

Denver’s first romance bookstore celebrates genre’s explosion with community, diversity and a vault full of sex toys Colorado’s flourishing romance community of authors, readers and entrepreneurs is making public the once-private hobby of giggling and blushing over fictional people’s love stories.

Denver's first romance bookstore, the Spicy Librarian, is here!

I look at the explosion of this wildly successful genre & what's clicking with so many women who are finding refuge, hope & empowerment in love stories as the world burns

www.denverpost.com/2025/02/04/s... via @denverpost.com

Colorado family says 8-year-old experienced racism at school in Douglas County, was told "Black is ugly" Another Douglas County family has come forward with claims of racism in the Douglas County School District.

Colorado family says 8-year-old experienced racism at school in Douglas County, was told "Black is ugly"
www.cbsnews.com/colorado/new...

Legend High School in Parker celebrates 15 years of granting wishes As blue rally towels swung back and forth in the air, a crowd of hundreds of students erupted with cheers when 13-year-old Pochie ran out into the middle of Legend High School's gymnasium, marking the end of the school’s 15th Wish Week. “It was really cool,” Pochie said. Pochie was joined by his parents and older brother, who is a freshman at the school.

Legend High School in Parker celebrates 15 years of granting wishes

As blue rally towels swung back and forth in the air, a crowd of hundreds of students erupted with cheers when 13-year-old Pochie ran out into the middle of Legend High School's gymnasium, marking the end of the school’s 15th Wish…

Denver-area schools outline plans amid immigration enforcement concerns, but gaps remain As federal immigration policies evolve and schools are no longer off limits for immigration enforcement operations, districts across the Denver metro area are facing difficult questions about how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive on campus. As a result, Colorado Community Media reporters reached out to the school districts in our coverage area to ask how they’re addressing these concerns with their staff and the communities they serve.

Denver-area schools outline plans amid immigration enforcement concerns, but gaps remain

As federal immigration policies evolve and schools are no longer off limits for immigration enforcement operations, districts across the Denver metro area are facing difficult questions about how to respond if…

King Soopers workers to go on 14-day strike starting Thursday After union members approved a strike, UFCW Local 7 said a two-week walkout will “allow everyone to understand our concerns.”

King Soopers workers will begin a 14-day strike starting Thursday coloradosun.com/2025/02/03/k...

With Trump in office, here’s what Douglas County law enforcement agencies say about deportation policy With public attention focused on President Donald Trump’s anticipated push to deport immigrants, politicians are fielding questions about immigration enforcement, including in Douglas County. At an event in front of news media, Sheriff Darren Weekly spoke about communicating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His comments touched on what are called “immigration detainers.” A detainer is, in part, a request from ICE that asks a law enforcement agency to communicate before releasing someone whom federal officials may want to deport, according to…

With Trump in office, here’s what Douglas County law enforcement agencies say about deportation policy

With public attention focused on President Donald Trump’s anticipated push to deport immigrants, politicians are fielding questions about immigration enforcement, including in Douglas County. At…

Does Colorado need a state mushroom? Mycology enthusiasts say "heck yeah" A bill introduced in the state legislature last week would name Colorado’s first official state mushroom.

My latest story for KUNC is 100% doom-free

www.kunc.org/news/2025-01...

A really great article we posted through La Ciudad this week has to do with the self-described "watchdog" that covers Commerce City issues. It acts like a news org, but it definitely isn't. Take a look here and tell me what you think: coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/01/30/e... #LocalNews

if you value free, high-quality, public media journalism, you can give now to CPR/Denverite/KRCC.

donate.cpr.org/give

donate.cpr.org/denverite?_g....

Former Elizabeth Middle School dean files discrimination claim against school district after library controversy Former Elizabeth Middle School Dean of Students LeEllen Condry has filed a civil rights complaint accusing the Elizabeth School District of discrimination. Condy, a Haitian American, claimed in the Jan. 29 filing that she had been discriminated against based on her race and gender and had been retaliated against for speaking out against the district’s Library Sensitive Topic Protocol and Book Lists…

Former Elizabeth Middle School dean files discrimination claim against school district after library controversy

Former Elizabeth Middle School Dean of Students LeEllen Condry has filed a civil rights complaint accusing the Elizabeth School District of discrimination. Condy, a Haitian American,…

Douglas, Jefferson counties among the top five for speeding citations The Colorado State Patrol has, once again, pinpointed the state’s five counties that attracted the most speeding citations in 2024 and two are right here in the Denver-metro area. Troopers say drivers in El Paso County got the most speeding tickers last year with 2,161. Douglas and Jefferson counties are ranked number two and three respectively, with Douglas collecting 862 citations followed by Jefferson with 831.  

Douglas, Jefferson counties among the top five for speeding citations

The Colorado State Patrol has, once again, pinpointed the state’s five counties that attracted the most speeding citations in 2024 and two are right here in the Denver-metro area. Troopers say drivers in El Paso County got the…

Trump’s now-blocked federal spending freeze sends Colorado officials scrambling, with billions at stake A sudden freeze on federal spending by the Trump administration — set to take effect Tuesday — sent Colorado officials scrambling as they tried to figure out the extent and impact of the decision.…

The City of Denver tells me their $4.4 billion budget for 2025 includes nearly $150 million in federal funding. They're not yet sure how much of that will be impacted by the pause in federal funding. More on the freeze's impacts in Colorado here: www.denverpost.com/2025/01/28/d... #copolitics

Colorado military officials prepare for a massive immigration raid in Aurora — but crackdowns may already be underway across metro area Officials with the U.S. Northern Command said that they started work Monday to prepare Buckley for use by Homeland Security as a temporary detention center.

"Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora is preparing to serve as a detention center for 'criminal aliens' as the Trump administration intends to start a mass deportation effort called 'Operation Aurora' as soon as Thursday."

@allisonsherry.bsky.social reports:

Feds investigate all-gender bathroom at East High School It is one of the first actions of the Trump administration directed at the school level as part of its promise to eradicate “woke” ideology.

Feds investigate all-gender bathroom at East High School

denverite.com/2025/01/28/e...
@coloradopublic.bsky.social

CDOT considering Castle Rock Bustang hub - Castle Rock News Press With Interstate 25 traffic predicted to continue to increase, the Colorado Department of Transportation is looking to Castle Rock to add a Bustang mobility hub for transit services. Representatives fr...

CDOT is evaluating three locations in Castle Rock for a Bustang mobility hub, seeking to ease I-25 traffic coloradocommunitymedia.com/2025/01/24/c...

Douglas County man among those Trump pardons after involvement in Jan. 6 Capitol riot Within hours after his second inauguration, President Donald Trump pardoned people convicted of offenses connected to the riot at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a Douglas County man is among them. Patrick Montgomery, 52, of the Roxborough area, had been sentenced to prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the Capitol, a news release from the federal Department of Justice said.

Douglas County man among those Trump pardons after involvement in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Within hours after his second inauguration, President Donald Trump pardoned people convicted of offenses connected to the riot at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and a Douglas County man is among them.…

Habeas corpus does not extend to non-human animals, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled today... "no matter how cognitively, psychologically, or socially sophisticated they may be." The case relates to elederly elephants Missy (pictured), Kimba, Lucky, LouLou, and Jambo at The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

Defamation suit may proceed against conservative radio outlet, talk show host: appeals court A former executive of Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems may proceed with his defamation lawsuit against the owner of a conservative talk radio station and one of its hosts, Colorado's second-highes...

"A former executive of Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems may proceed with his defamation lawsuit against the owner of a conservative talk radio station and one of its hosts, Colorado's second-highest court ruled on Thursday." www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/defam...